Valve means



Feb. 28, 1950 G, E, FRANCK 2,499,022

VALVE MEANS Filed Nov. 29, 1945 Patented Feb. 28, 1950 VALVE MEANS George E. Franck, Riverside, Ill., assignor to The Imperial Brass Manufacturing Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application November 29, 1945, Serial No. 631,617

10 Claims.

The invention relates generally to valve means and more particularly to valve means of the plug type adapted for the handling of fuels for internal combustion engines.

One object of the invention is to provide a new and improved valve means of the plug type which has a tight, leakage preventing fit throughout its life and which has a long life.

Another object is to provide a valve means of the plug type having a resilient composition-tometal relationship between its contacting surfaces.

Another object is to provide a valve means of the rotary plug type in which the main portion of the plug is composed of a resilient composition and can be expanded radially to take up wear.

A further object is to provide Valve means of the rotary plug type having common means serving as a packing gland and as a part of detent means.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the-accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal sectional view of a strainer embodying the features of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken approximately along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken approximately along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

While the invention may be susceptible of various modications and alternative constructions, it is herein shown and will hereinafter be described in a preferred embodiment. It is not intended, however, that the invention is to be limited thereby to the specific construction disclosed. On the contrary it is intended to cover all modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

For purposes of disclosure, the valve means is herein shown and will hereinafter be described as embodied in a strainer of the type employed in the fuel systems of internal combustion engines. Such a strainer comprises generally a body 5 serving as a housing for valve means, generally designated 6, and as a support for a bowl or cup 'I containing straining means proper, which may take a variety of forms but is here shown as an annular gauze screen element 8. The body 5 is, roughly speaking, T-shaped with the stem of the T formed by a portion 9 and the cross bar formed by portions I and |I extending laterally of the portion 9. Projecting still farther laterally are a pair of ears I2 eachhaving an aperture I3 whereby the strainer may be supported as by bolting to a suitable member. On the underneath side the body is formed with Aa circular portion I4 "having a depending annular flange I5 forming a recess in which the upper open end of the bowl 'I is received. Inwardly of the flange I5 the circular portion I4 is slightly further recessed, as at I6, to form an annular shoulder Il between which and the upper edge of the bowl 'I there is preferably interposed a sealing gasket I8. The bowl 'I is removably supported in position by means of a bail I9 which depends from the body 5 and carries at its lower end screw means 2|) for forcing the bowl tightly against the gasket I8. Concentric with the flange I5 and the recess I6 is another shallow and shouldered recess. 2| of a diameter smaller than the recess I6 for the reception of an upwardly opening thimble 22. The thimble is retained in f the recess 2| by swedging the portion of the body 9 surrounding the recess 2| slightly over the flange 23 formed on the upper open end of the thimble. At its closed, herein lower, end the thimble has a reduced portion 24 formed with apertures 25 opening through the sides thereof, which reduced portion projects with a reasonably tight t through the central ring 26 of the annular gauze screen 8. An external ring 21 ofthe gauze screen is secured between the bowl 'I and the gasket I8 in a recess formed inv the bowl for that purpose.

Formed in the portion 9 of the body is a bore `28 opening outwardly of the body through one end of the portion 9, herein the right-hand end or top of the T, as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. Opening axially tothe bore 28 through the closed or inner end thereof is a passage 29 concentric with but smaller than the bore 28. At its outer end, the bore 28 is internally threaded for the threaded reception of a sleeve nut 30 as will hereinafter be more particularly described. Forming a part of the passage 29 is a radial passage 3|, which communicates at its other end with the recess 2| and hence with the interior of the thimble 22.

Formed respectively in the laterally extending portions I0 and and in the main portion are recesses 32, 33 and 34, with the recesses 32 and 33 serving as inlet ports and the recess 34 serving as an outlet or discharge port. The ports are adapted for the connection of tubing therein the bowl I on the opposite side of the strainer 8 "from the thimble 22.

.as is formed with 'a boren and-wana. radial po'rt 4l, the bore 4l! opening through the inner end of the stem to be in constant communication with the passagez29. The stem 39.is"also formed at its inner endwitha radially 'outwardly extending flange 42 and with an axially extending annular bead 43. The ange 42 has a diameter just slightly less than the bore 28 and has its outwardly facing face 44 forming a slight angle with a true perpendicular to )the axisof the-stem 39. The bead 43 has a diameter larger .than'the passage 29 so as to bear against and forma seal with the annular shoulder vformed between the bore 28 and the passage 29.

Surrounding the stem at its inner `end Iis a sleeve 45 of a suitablejpacking material, by way -of example, `a material now on the .market vcomposed of cork and neoprene. The .sleeve 45 is `formed with a radial port 46 of ,generally oval shape. The-sleeve 45 lis applied .tothe stem with the port v4t is .registry with .the port 4| .in the stem and has the larger dimension yof the .oval

,port4t extending longitudinally of the stem for a purpose that will presently be .made known.

vPreferably the stem over the portion receiving thesleeve 45 is serrated .so as .to assure .against circumferential .displacement of the sleeve .45 relative to thestem.

.A feature of this invention is the employment ,of .a construction .resulting .in a combination .flange 48 is .an .outwardly opening notch 49 and diametrically opposite the .notch 4S is a second .aperture .56, though a recess .formed `internally of the flange 48 would serve as well. Received in the .space formed `betweenthe flange 48 .and the .stem 3.9 .is an .arcuate .member l .formed with .a radial, outward projection 52 projecting through the vnotch '49 in the flange 48 .and .into a groove 5.3 formed .in the bore 28. Carried by the stem 39 for cooperation with the aperture 5S in the flange 48 l.and the arcuate member 5I is *,a smallplunger 154 received slidablyin a radial bore 55 in the stem and urged outwardly ofthe bore .by a compression springiit` in the wellknown manner of detent means. It will be readily seen, particularly .from Fig. 3, that the plunger 54 engages the aperture 50 when the .stem 3B is .in a central or neutral position and limits rotation of the .stem .in either directionby abutment with .the ends of 'the arcuate member 5l. It will be appreciated, of course, that the various parts are so positioned that the valve means will be closed when the .plunger 54 engages the aperture 5i), and that the ,port 46 .of the valve element will register with one or .the other of the ,passages .31 when .the plunger 5.4 is .in abutment .with one or the otherof the `ends of the arcuate .member .51. The ring l4'! .and the .arcuate .member 5.! are retained in proper position .by the sleeve .nut 3i! already mentioned.

It will be apparent from the foregoing .that the packing Asleeve `.45 yserves .not merely as a packing in the conventional manner but .forms the cenaturnedin a .little zfurther, thereby compressing .ness ofthe seal. axial contraction 'of the packing .that the port 46 the packing axially and forcing it to expand laterally or radially and thus renewing the tight- It is vinzconterrmlation of such is made oval, thereby permitting such axial contraction without reducing the eiiectiveness of theport 4l in the stern. Moreover, the ring 4'? not only functions as a packing gland but also .as a vdetent stop v,permitting the inclusion of detent means with a reduced number of parts vandin a "compactmannen I claim as .my invention:

1. Valve'means comprising a casing having a .bore opening at one end through the casing, a rst passage opening tothe bore radially through the .side Vthereof and a second .passage .opening to the bore axially throughlthe closed .end thereof, a valve element vhaving a tight .but rotatable t within the bore comprising a valve stem of a `diameter smaller than the bore having at its vinner end `an .axial l.bore opening through the inner end `of said stem, a radial port communieating with the borein said stem and a radially loutwardly extending flange, an annular .sleeve of resilient, .deformable .composition material hav- .gland `rotatably .and slidably mounted on Asaid valvestemat the .end of said annular sleeve opposite `the ange on .said stem, and a nut threaded into the open end of said bore and bearing Aat its inner end against said packing gland.

2. Valve means comprising a casing having a bore opening .at .one .end .through -the casing, a first passage opening to the bore radially through the `side thereof yand a second .passage opening to the bore axially through the closed end thereof a -valve .element having a tight but rotatable Yl'lt within the'bore .comprising avalve stem of a diameter smaller than the bore having at its inner end anaxial bore opening through the inner end of said stem, a radial lportcommunicating with .nular sleeve of resilient, deformable composition material having a radial port 'therein nonrotatably mounted on said stem with the port in said sleeve in registry with the port in said stem, the port in said sleeve having an axial dimension larger than that of the port in 'said stem, both ports being positioned for registry ywith the passage opening radially tothe bore when said valve element is in proper angular position, an annular `packing gland rotatably and slidably mounted on said valve stem .at the end of said annular sleeve opposite the .iiange on said stem, and va nut threaded into the open end of said bore .and bearing at its inner end against said packing .gland to compress said sleeve axially and thereby .distort .thesleeve radially into luidtight engagement with the bore.

3. Valve means comprising a casing yhaving a bore opening at one .end .through .the casing, a rstpassage opening to the bore yradially through the side thereof and a :second passage opening to the'bore axially through .the closed end thereof, a valve element Ahaving .a tight but rotatable t within .the .bore comprising a valve vstem of a diameterl ysmaller than .the .-bore .having .at vits inner -Aend Van .axial Lbore opening through the 'inner end of said stem, a radial portcommunicating with the bore in said stem, a radially outwardly extending flange, an axially inwardly extending annular bead of a diameter larger than Ithe second passage in said casing, an annular sleeve of resilient, deformable composition material having a radial port therein nonrotatably mounted on said stem with the port in said sleeve in registry with the port in said stem, both ports being positioned for registry with the passage opening radially to the bore when said -valve element is in proper angular position, an

annular packing gland rotatably and slidably mounted on said valve stem at the end of said annular sleeve opposite the flange on said stem, and a nut threaded into the open end of said bore and bearing at its inner end against said packing gland.

4. Valve means comprising a casing having a bore opening at one end through the casing, a

rst passage opening to the bore radially through the side thereof and a second passage opening to the bore axially through the closed end thereof, a valve element having a tight but rotatable iit within the bore comprising a valve stem of a diameter smaller than the bore having at its inner end an axial bore opening through the inner end of said stem, a radial port communicating with the bore in said stem, a radially out- Wardly extending flange having an axially outwardly facing face inclined at an angle to a true perpendicular to the axis of said stem, said stem bearing at its inner end against the end Wall of the bore, an annular sleeve of resilient, deformable composition material having a radial port therein nonrotatably mounted on said stem with the port in said sleeve in registry with the port in said stem, both ports being positioned for registry with the passage opening radially to the bore when said valve element is in proper angular position, an annular packing gland rotatably and slidably mounted on said valve stem at the end of said annular sleeve opposite the flange on said stem, and a nut threaded into the open end of said bore and bearing at its inner end against said packing gland.

5. Valve means comprising a casing having a bore opening at one end through the casing, a first passage opening to the bore radially through the side thereof and a second passage opening to the bore axially through the closed end thereof, a valve element having a fluid-tight but rotatable fit within the bore comprising a valve stem of a diameter smaller than the bore having at its inner end an axial bore opening through the inv ner end of said stem and a radial port communicating with the bore in said stem, an annular sleeve of resilient, deformable composition material having a radial port therein mounted on said stem for rotation therewith, with the port in said sleeve in registry with the port in said stem, both ports being positioned for registry with the passage opening radially to 'the bore when said valve element is in proper angular position, a plunger in said stem spring pressed radially outwardly, means nonrotatably but axially slidably received in the bore in surrounding relation to said stem and acting jointly as a packing gland for said sleeve and means cooperating with said plunger to indicate closed and open positions of the valve means, and a nut threaded into the open end ofthe bore to retain said last mentioned means in proper position axially of the bore.

6. Valve means comprising a casing having a bore opening at one end through the casing, a. rst passage opening to the bore radially through the side thereof and a second passage opening to the bore axially through the closed end thereof, a valve element having a fluid-tight but rotatable fit within the bore comprising a valve stem of a diameter smaller than the bore having at its inner end an axial bore opening through the inn er end of said stem and a radial port communicating with the bore in said stem, an annular sleeve of resilient, deformable composition material having a radial port therein mounted on said stem for rotation therewith, with the port in said sleeve in registry with the port in said stem, both ports being positioned for registry with the passage opening radially to the bore when said valve element is in proper angular position, a plunger in said stem spring pressed radially outwardly, an annular ring received within the bore in surrounding relation to said stem and operableas a packing gland, means operable to retain said ring in nonrotatably xed relation within the bore and also serving as a limit stop for engagement by said plunger, said annular ring having formed therein means for cooperation with said plunger to indicate a closed position of the valve means, and a nut threaded into the open end of the bore and bearing at its inner end against said annular ring.

7. Valve means comprising a casing having a bore opening at one end through the casing, a

first passage opening to the bore radially through the side thereof and a second passage opening to the bore axially through the closed end thereof, a valve element having a fluid-tight but rotatable nt within the bore comprising a valve stem of a diameter smaller than the bore having at its inner end an axial bore opening through the inner end of said stein and a radial port communicating with the bore in said stem, an annular sleeve of resilient, deformable compo.- sition material having a radial port therein mounted on said stem forrotation therewith, with the port in said sleeve in registry with the port in said stem, |both ports being positioned for registry with the passage opening radially to the bore when said valve element is in proper angular position, a plunger in said stem spring pressed radially outwardly, an annular ring having an axially outwardly extending iiange of an internal diameter larger than said stem, the flange having a notch opening outwardly and a recess disposed diametrically opposite to the notch, an arcuate member received in the space between said stern and said flange having a radial projection extending through the notch in said ring, means formed in said casing adapted to be engaged by said projection for locking said ring and said arcuate member in fixed angular position relative to 'said casing for cooperation With said plunger as detent means and a nut threaded into the open end of said bore and bearing at its inner end against said ring and yend'thereof, a valve element having a fluid-tight but rotatable t within the bore comprising 'a valve stem of a diameter smaller than the bore having at its inner end an axial bore opening through the inner end thereof, a radial port communicating v-with 'the bore insaid stem and a radially outwardly extending ilange, an annular sleeve oi resilient, deformable composition material having a radial port therein nonrotatably mounted on said stem with the port in said sleeve in registry with the port in said stem, both ports being Ypositioned for registry with the nrst named passages when said valve element is in proper angular position, an annular packing gland rotatably and slidably mounted on said valve stem for compressing said sleeve vaxially between it and said flange to devform .said sleeve radially into duid-tight nt with thefbore, said gland having an annular axially "outwardly extending ange of an internal diameter larger than said stem and having formed therein a notch opening outwardly and generally opposite the notch, a recess opening radially inwardly, an arcuate member positioned in the annular space between said flange and said stem and .having a radial projection extending through 4the notch in said iange, a groove formed in said vcasingopening to the borefor engagement therewith of said projection for Aretaining said packing gland and said arcuate member in fixed angular position relative to said casing while permitting of movement axially of the bore, a plunger spring-pressed radially outwardly carried by said stern for cooperation with said arcuate member and fsa'id packing gland to indicate closed position 'of the valve means and to limit and desig- .n'ate fthe ynecessary extent of rotation of said valveeleinent for registry with one or the other ofY the passages opening radially to the bore, and

a ynut threaded into the open end of the bore and 'bearing at its inner end against said packving gland to determine the axial compression of said sleeve.

9. Valve means comprising a body member vforming a valve housing and a support for a strainer bowl, said body member being generally T-shaped with a rcircular portion on its underneath side 'when in normal position of use, the ycircular portion being recessed for the reception 'of `theA upper open end of a strainer bowl, said body member having formed therein a bore eX- tending longitudinally of the member and open- 'ing outwardly of the member at the top of the T, a rst passage opening at one endV to the `bore through the closed lend thereof and con- `centric 'with the bore and vopening at the other 'end to the recess in said circular portion, a second passage opening at one end Vto the recess Yin i'sai'd circular portion and yat Vthe other end through the base of the T for the connection of lla conduit thereto, a pair of ports. opening outwardly of said body member at the ends of the cross bar portion of the T and communieating with the bore through passages opening radially to the bore, a rotary plug type valve element received in the bore comprising a stem having `at its inner end a radial port and an axial passage, the latter openingy through the inner end of said stem for constant communication with said iirst passage and a radially outwardly projecting flangeya sleeve-like nonmetallic pack ing nonrotatably xed on the inner end of said stern having a radial port in registry with the radial port :in saidstem, an Vannular member receivable in thelboreand in .surrounding relation to said stem .forming `a gland for said packing adjustable axially of -said stem to vary the axial compression lof said packing and thus the tightness of the nt between said packing and the bore, and a sleeve nut threaded into vthe open end of the bore and bea-ring against said gland member to determine the axial position thereof.

l0. Valve means Ycomprising a body member forming a valve -h'ousing and a support for a strainer bowl, Vsaid body member being generally T-shaped witha circular portion on its underneath side when in normal position of use, the

'circular portion being recessed for the reception of the upper open end of a strainer bowl, said body member having formed therein a bore extending longitudinally rof the member and opening outwardly of the memlber at the top of the T, a rst passage opening at one end to the bore through the closed end thereof and concentric with the bore and opening at the other end to the Yrecess in said circular portion, a second passage opening at one end to the recess in said circular portion `and at the other end through the base of the T for the connection of a conduit thereto, -a pair of ports opening outwardly of said 'body member at the ends of the cross bar portion of the T and communicating with the bore through passages opening radially to the bore, a rotary plug type valve element received in the bore comprising a stem having at its inner end a radial port and an axial passage, the latter opening through the inner end of said stern for constant communication with said first passage and a radially youtwardly projecting nange, a sleeve-like nonmetallic packing nonrotatably rfixed on the .inner end of said stern having a radial port in registry with the radial port in said stem, an annular ring receivable in the bore and forming an vaxially adjustable packing gland for said packing, said ring having an axially outwardly projecting annular flange having an internal diameter larger than the diameter of said stem and having formed in the flange aradial opening and a diametrically opposed internal recess, an arcuate element adapted to be interposed between said stem and the flange on said ring and having a radial projection extending through the opening in said ring, a groove in said body member opening to the bore adapted to `receive vsaid projection for retaining said ring and said arcuate member in a xed angular position, a sleeve nut threaded into the open end kof the |bore for retaining said arcuate member in said ring and said ring in desired axial position, and means carried by said stem adapted to engage the recess in said ring to indicate the closedposition of the valve means and abutting against the ends of said arcuate member to indicate and aid in the positioning of the valve yin valve-open position.

GEORGE E. FRANCK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the lle of this patent: 

